Is thirty years too long to keep a lawn mower?

[CalG]

That would be one of the blade drive belts. I had checked Jacks offerings , but did not see the wheel drive items.

Thanks though.

Would $43.22 ea. for belts be better? https://www.jackssmallengines.com/Products/GIANT-VAC/Bel

 

[t1kilo]

My push mower is 52 years old this year. It’s a Kee commercial high wheel mower with a thick cast aluminum deck. No sides on the deck, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Bought it when it was 14 years old from an older gentleman who had moved from his farm into the city. I gave him $125 for it and almost felt guilty. At that time, you could still buy them, but they were $750 plus. It’s not self propelled, but as light as it is, that’s not a problem, even for my 95 pound wife at that time.

 

[yanmars]

I do have a self propelled bush hog type mower that I am sure was built in the early 60s. I do not use it much but it is handy when I do and starts well.

 

[big bubba]

on the subject of walk behinds, this is my choice for steep slopes & pond dams. a hyd zero turn walk behind (vs belt propelled) is the max way to go. but to the OP's thread, this does not qualify since it's only 12yrs old. foam fill on rear tires helps, but i should have gone bar rather than turf tires. regards

» Hydro Drive Walk-Behind Mowers

encoreequipment.com

 

[bigtiller]

seems to me if one has a solid machine, replacing just for the sake of yearly intervals is overkill, esp with poor box store quality, & very pricey commercial grade machines. i feel the same way about vehicles.

Not in my case.
The dealer had no trouble selling my trade-in. It usually had less than 40 hours.

It cost me $50 to trade every year. Spring sales push and employee discount. This was back in the 90's.

For 50 bucks I didn't have to do any spring maintenance

 

[terraformer]

My push mower is 65 years old I used to use it on my parents lawn when new.

My main riding mower is about 43 years old, a Bolens/iseki 19 hp diesel tractor, Japanese made, that pulls a brush hog. I have had it for about 2o years. Doesn't burn any motor oil. Uses about a gallon of diesel in 3 hours of mowing.

Nice thing about a walk behind is that you get some exercise.

 

[Runner]

I have three lawn tractors and two push mowers and only one is less than 30 years old and that one is about 25.

 

[Zork]

No! 30 year old equipment that is well maintained and has some sort of parts supply is not too old to keep. It might be too hard for some peoples pride and it “could” cause some customers to unnecessarily question a company’s image and/or success.

 

[sixdogs]

My Case 448, L & G tractor is 42 YO and has endured the ignorance of a newbie at these things. It still serves me as a tow tractor for small wagons and carts and a Shredder/Chipper.. I've retired it from mowing/snow since I have two Kubotas with MMMs an d blades.. I did my bests to maintain it and it still starts & runs faithfully.....except for a surge issue that I feather out with the choke.

Cheers,
MikeView attachment 3505196

Very nice tractor and wagon. Any more pictures of it?

 

[Gord Baker]

I got this Giant-Vac 54 inch walk behind mower to keep up the sports field at the elementary school when my kids were there and playing one kind of "ball" or another. Volunteerism was still a thing then.

Well, the kids are grown and gone for some time now, but I still have the mower and use it to do the bulk of the lawn every summer.
The deck is getting pretty holy (sic) but the Kawasaki engine always starts right up, and it uses no oil.
But today, the drive belts to the wheels started slipping badly up even the slightest grade. The tension wheel is adjusted properly, so the easy option was to spray on some belt dressing. Good to go... till next time.
I looked "on-line" for replacement drive belts. They can run some good money. Like $90 each!

I've got a little bit newer Ransomes Bobcat just like it only in 48" that suits me better. I don't seem to quite as quick in the corners as I once was.

I'm just wonder when is the right time to send this one off. I'm sure it has another dozen years in it with just a little bit of TLC ;-)

Put a ridiculous price on it and see what happens. You may have a bearing seized that is causing belt problems